Primary Department: Management and Budget
Primary Department Head/Elected Official: Daniel Ramos, Executive Director
Secondary Department: Choose an item.
Secondary Department Head/Elected Official:
Regular or Supplemental RCA: Regular RCA
Type of Request: Policy
Project ID (if applicable): N/A
Vendor/Entity Legal Name (if applicable): N/A
MWBE Contracted Goal (if applicable): N/A
MWBE Current Participation (if applicable): N/A
Justification for 0% MWBE Participation Goal: N/A - Goal not applicable to request
Grant Indirect Costs Rate (if applicable): N/A
Justification for 0% Grant Indirect Costs Rate (if applicable): N/A - Not a grant item
Request Summary (Agenda Caption):
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Request for approval of a change to the Capital Expenditures for Debt Purposes Policy to lower the per-unit threshold for bulk equipment purchases of law enforcement equipment, technology equipment, and furniture.
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Background and Discussion:
On April 23, 2024, Commissioners Court approved the Capital Expenditures for Debt Purposes Policy ("the Policy"). The Policy established a $1,000 unit price threshold for equipment purchased as a part of a bulk purchase of $50,000 or greater.
In the past two years, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has gained more experience and feedback from departments regarding capital equipment purchases. Additionally there are more demands on the general fund than there were two years ago when the Policy was first approved.
There are certain instances of larger quantities of equipment that are purchased that fall below this threshold, most often for law enforcement equipment (e.g., firearms), technology equipment (e.g., tablets), and furniture (e.g., chairs). We want to proactively meet department needs and minimize incentives to purchase more expensive equipment just to meet a threshold.
OMB recommends lowering the per-unit threshold from $1,000 to $500 for bulk equipment purchases of law enforcement equipment, technology equipment, ...
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